Images from The Beede Gallery

Kendhang Ageng from the Javanese Gamelan Kyai Rengga Manis Everist

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NMM 9865. Kendhang Ageng. Largest of the gamelan drums. Conical with a small and large head. Water-buffalo hide heads laced together with long strands of hide crisscrossed around the body. Teakwood body decorated with flower and leaf pattern covered with gold leaf.  Length (head to head):  75.7 cm.  Diameter of small head:  30.8 cm.  Diameter of large head:  40.2 cm. Teakwood stand.

Function:  The kendhang player shoulders a great deal of responsibility in the gamelan, for the role of the kendhang is to establish and maintain the tempo, to lead the gamelan through all tempo changes within a piece of music, to decide whether or not to move immediately from one piece of music into another without stopping, and to signal the end of each piece. The kendhang ageng can be played together with the kendhang ketipung by the same player, an arrangement known as kendhang kalih, or it can be played alone by one person, known as kendhang satunggal or kendhang satu. Compared to the ciblon and wayang, this kendhang is played with relatively little ornamentation and is characterized by very deep, resonating sounds.

Playing technique:  The kendhang ageng is a hand drum played by using a variety of strokes on both heads.

Left: NMM 9866. Kendhang Ketipung. Smallest of the gamelan drums. Conical with a small and large head. Water-buffalo hide heads laced together with long strands of hide crisscrossed around the body. Teakwood body decorated with flower and leaf pattern covered with gold leaf.  Length (head to head):  44.8 cm.  Diameter small head:   13.4 cm.  Diameter large head:  19.4 cm.

Right: Kendhang Ageng.  Length (head to head):  75.7 cm.  Diameter of small head:  30.8 cm.  Diameter of large head:  40.2 cm.

Function:  The kendhang ketipung can be played together with the kendhang ageng by the same player, an arrangement known as kendhang kalih, or it can be played alone by one person accompanying the kendhang ageng player. Compared to the ciblon and wayang, the kendhang is played with relatively little ornamentation.

Playing technique:  The kendhang ketipung is a hand drum played using a variety of strokes on both heads.

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Go to Checklist of Musical Instruments from Kyai Rengga Manis Everist Gamelan

Go to The Manufacture and Ceremonial History of the Kyai Rengga Manis Everist Gamelan

Go to The Arrival of the Kyai Rengga Manis Everist Gamelan in Vermillion, July 15, 2000

Go to The Naming Ceremony for the Kyai Rengga Manis Everist Gamelan, April 26, 2003

Go to Glossary of Terms Relating to the Kyai Rengga Manis Everist Gamelan

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